It is March 20, spring, three days after St. Patrick’s Day and ten days before Easter, and there is like 6 inches of snow outside. Yesterday it was snowing, hailing and raining. My kids didn’t have school. And if you don’t know by now, you have not been paying close attention, or even any attention to these here blog posts, or you’d know that I HATE WINTER. AND I HATE SNOW. AND I MOST HATE WINTER AND SNOW WHEN IT’S MARCH AND SPRING IS A FEW DAYS AWAY. And so, I have taken it upon myself to review places I AM DREAMING OF MOVING TO, so as not to take someone out with my caustic anger. The list is comprised of my favorite places which are not visited upon by plummeting temperatures, or white drifts.
1. Hawaii, the Big Island
This place is extraordinary. It has black sand, and lava craters, and a dormant volcano, and mountains, and rainforest and I give it a number 10 on the NOW-THIS-IS-A-BEACH scale. Plus the people are really, really nice. Really nice. It’s probably the weather. I’m sure I’d be a much nicer person in better weather. (on second thought, maybe not.)
2. Bermuda
This place is so pretty, it’s sort of hard to believe. It’s all pastel and manicured and the beaches are outstanding. There is this one beach, which I’ve already blogged about that is my idea of a fat slice of beach heaven (Horshoe Bay). The problem with Bermuda is that, while it doesn’t get snow, it isn’t warm all year long, which is kind of an issue. But gosh, it’s pretty.
3. Southern California
I could live in a lot of places in SoCal, including the San Diego area, specifically La Jolla. I know a lot of people find L.A. a heartless, soulless place, but I agree with Randy Newman, “I love L.A.” It’s got good beaches, and good city, and good food, and cool stuff to do. It’s unfortunately really far from everybody I know and love, except my cousin Gabe, but I think he would get sick of me pretty quickly.
4. St. Maarten
Yes, it’s poor in places, that make it difficult to enjoy yourself, because of the guilt, but this place is stunning. Physically gorgeous, this island gets high marks, and the French side (which is really the only side to go to) of this gem has exceptionally good food. Long Bay has been the location of many of my fantasies, as well as my meditations. I give it an 11 on my NOW-THIS-IS-A-BEACH scale.
5. Miami. My sister just moved there. Nuff said.
There are other dream places that I’ve never been to that I think about packing up and heading for, like Bali and Tahiti, and Bora Bora and Kuai. But for now, I’m here just trying to celebrate spring WITH MY BOOTS AND MY SLEEPING BAG COAT ON.
*the gratitude-a-thon 
Toni, Easter is not five days away. Easter is March31st Palm Sunday, this Sunday!!!
Sent from my iPad
oh shut up! it still shouldn’t be snowing. xo
Ahh – Bermuda. My adopted country. My home-away-from-home. The pink sand beaches, the turquoise water. I have always been, and will always be, grateful for Bermuda and all it has given me. I am sending this from Bermuda (even though I am sitting at work in North Reading).
Remember the client we worked on from Bermuda (Zoom Company)? It was great visiting them there and having them show us around. I loved it and Lia at 5 years old said she wanted to move there. I have been dreaming of the Caribbean lately because of all those ads with that beautiful water. I haven’t been down there in many years. I think that must be why the north has two vacations in the winter and we just have one in the spring in NC. More people go to those places to escape the cold. I always liked to wait until late spring when it was just starting to get warm so my summer seemed longer. Bali has always been on my list. Someday.
yeah. i don’t think you can do this enough!